Crystal River current., 1887-03-19

lines. officers are urging the men to
be calm and take good aim. Our men
obey. At the first fire the foe retreats
to the ravine. While he is crossing we
load to be ready as he ascends the
hill. The colonel rushing along the
line cries out, "Now be ready, boys"
As they emerge the order is ''fire"
The colonel seeing the execution calls
another" At Spottsylvania the Un-
ion loss is placed at 10000.
And now for eight days and nights
with scarcely an intermission this
army has been making attacks upon
a desperate foe everywhere strongly
intrenched. If sleep were allowed to
any, it must be under arms. The sol-
dier must grasp his musket and be
ready to spring to his feet at any mo-
ment. Our loss has been fearful. The
sick, the wounded, the killed and the
prisoners during these memorable
days must have amounted to moro
than one-third of the entire army.
After this battle reinforcements are
pouring in. Troops are encouraged
by the news from the North. Men gen.
orally in the army considered them
selves beaten. Our loss had been
greater than that of the rebels. Imag-
inc our surprise on learning that Pres
ident Lincoln had on May 9, after re-
ceiving intelligence from the Wilder
ness, issued q proclamation recon-
mending that all patriots ''unite in
common Thanksgiving and prayer to
Almighty God" on account OF "the
army operations within the last five
days" On the same day the army
y,r fh4 ~ S@I IL
who was killed by a ball from a sharp
shooter. The objective point is not
reached. The army must move.
and annoyance from sharp-shooters
all the way to Cold Harbor which is
reached June 1.
to break the monotony of these hot
and dusty roads, A man in the ranks
is whirled violently round and falls to
the ground. His companions remove
his equipments and search for the ex-
pected wound. 1t cannot be found.
The man soon resumes his place and
goes on almost ashamed lest he be
suspected OF shamming. The same
night when ready to encamp and the
blankets, which had been twisted to-
gether and thrown over the shoulders,
are spread out bullet falls upon the
ground. The soldier, suspected of
shamming calls his comrades for an
inspection, who find that the rebel
bullet has passed through 12 thick
nesses of his blanket. The verdict
was Justified in falling" Every
soldier will recall many similar in
stances. Sometimes the bullet passes
through the clothing. The soldier
imagines himself killed and often sends
dying messages to his friends.
At Cold Harbor it is the old story of
attacks and repulses, slaughter and
blood. In this fight our brigade at
one time is placed in front OF artillery
for its support. For several hours we
lie fiat upon our faces in the edge of
forest, our artillery playing over our
heads and the confederates returning
the fire. Beyond a doubt this it the
most trying position in which to place
men. Shot and shell came screeching
through tho air. Now shell bursts
in our midst, killing several and
wounding others; now it comes tear
ing along cutting the branches from
trees; now it plows the earth in our
front and half buries those near; and
again it strikes in our rear. But in
each case there is a painful suspense.
The noise is deafening. The hands
placed over the ears are but a slight
protection. The boom of guns is still
heard. If we could only do some
thing! fire, load, charge or retreatl
We must wait for orders. When the
order, retreat" came it was necessary
only to whisper it-so readily was it
obeyed.
After this battle ofJune3 3 the lines OF
hostile forces are very near each 9TH
er. Sharp firing is kept up by the
picket line, day and night. In the day
time it is death to show ones head.
The picket line must be relieved under
the cover of darkness. Men are eau
TONED not to speak or make any un-
necessary noise. Even then many are
killed and wounded by random firing.
The sharpshooters also are making
sad havoc during the day. The dead
between the lines are yet unburied
and the wounded uncared for. A cor
between Gems Grant and
Lee resulted in an armstice of two
hours III which the dead and wounded
were tenderly removed.
We might go on with this narrative
crossing the James and finding the
enemy in force there. Our troops
would be found still sk;rmishing, fight
ing and contesting with the enemy
every foot ofground until within about
two miles of Petersburg where the
seiee fairly begins. This campaign, at
which we have only glanced, lasting
90 bays. IN which more than $4,000
were killed and wounded; more than
13, 900 taken prisoners; thousands
made sick,-the most terrible cam
paign in the civil war, is one well worth
special attention.